An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Whoever proposed the concept of a “Festival of Ideas” came up with a corker. It’s a collaboration between The National Centre for Early Music, the University of York, the York Museums Trust, and York Theatre Royal – and takes place in June and July this year. They’ve lined up a rich mix of concerts, exhibitions, talks, workshops all centred on several themes, and this year’s (a pilot for what is hoped will become a regular event) themes are “Becket, the Body, and the Bible”.
Taking the last of these first, this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. This magnificent piece of literature transformed the English language (providing us with many of our favourite quotations and sayings) and also had a huge impact on the culture and politics of this country. To many it’s one of the cornerstones of how British people define themselves. The King James Bible is the subject of an intriguing exhibition at the Old Palace of York Minster – A Book Fit for a King. This is complemented by two performances: the Theatre Royal is putting on a production of Anthony Minghella’s Two Planks and a Passion – a sensitive and humorous exploration of belief and its relationship with the York community; and The Greatest Story Ever Told – an updated version of the York Mystery Plays with a blend of pre-renaissance music and modern composition and (appropriately for the 21st century) incorporating digital imagery.
Beckett’s work are interpreted through two plays adapted from short novels, pieces put to music and a stunning exhibition of photographs.
There’s food for the body and the mind at the William Etty exhibition at the York Art Gallery. Etty highlights the contradictions of the Victorian era, which has a reputation for strait-laced primness yet many of its artists (including Etty) specialised in works featuring naked women: many of them in a “classical” setting.
And there’s a wide spread of other things to see, do, hear, touch, and even taste and smell in this thought-provoking Festival of Ideas. Please note that many of these events have a very limited capacity (indeed, tickets are no longer available for some of them) so please check with the venue before setting out.
What’s On & When:
Concerts
Beckett in Music – 25 June, 1 pm, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York. Admission by ticket only (£10, Concessions and Students £5).
Damien Harron: percussion
Catherine Laws: piano, prepared piano
John Tilbury: piano, voice
Jos Zwaanenburg: flutes, electronics
Performing works by John Tilbury, Martin Iddon & Damien Harron
Exhibitions
John Minihan Photographic Exhibition – 16 to 26 June, 10am to 4.00pm, The Ron Cooke Hub, University of York. Admission free. Intimate and memorable photographs of the Beckett and the writer’s stage productions.
A Book Fit for a King: Celebrating the English Bible of 1611 – 17 June to 30 November, Upper Hall of the Old Palace, York Minster. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am to 4pm, and Wednesdays by appointment. Admission by ticket only (£3, concessions £2), available on the door.
William Etty: Art and Controversy – 24 June to 22 January – 10am to 5pm, York Art Gallery. Admission free.
Thanatoscope: a film/art installation by Mischa Twitchin – 1 to 3 July, 10am to 4pm, Demonstration Space, The Ron Cooke Hub, University of York. Admission free.
Family Events
Ideas and Narratives: Creative Writing workshop – 20 June 2011, 6.30pm. De Grey 124, York St John University. Admission by pre-booking only.
Sensory Stories Café – 21 June 2011, 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Tulip Tree Garden, Berrick Saul Building, University of York. The Sensory Stories Café is a postgraduate project which uses sight, sound, smell, taste and touch to present research to the public. Discover what Oliver Twist’s gruel may have tasted like or what it was like to be at a duel. Free admission by ticket.
Bring your Family Bible – 21 June 2011, 6.00pm to 8pm, Ken Spelman Rare Books, 70 Micklegate, York. Free admission. If you’ve got a family bible that’s been passed down through the generations, then it’s probably got lots of associated family history. Bring your bible along and share your stories.
University Sunday at the Yorkshire Museum – 26 June 2011, 11.00am to 4pm. Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens, York. Find out about Viking ice skates, the story of York’s Jews, and learn about medieval stained glass in this series of sessions and activities – not only stimulating for body and mind, but fun too.
Performances
The Greatest Story Ever Told? Friday 17 June 2011, 7.30pm, the National Centre for Early Music. Admission by ticket only (Adults £6, Concessions £4, Students £3).
First Love: the Gare St Lazare Players – an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s short story. 22 June 2011, 8.00pm, Dixon Studio Theatre, Wentworth College, University of York. Tickets no longer available.
First Love: the Gare St Lazare Players – an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s short story. 22 June 2011, 8.00pm, Dixon Studio Theatre, Wentworth College, University of York. Admission by free ticket.
A Mad World, My Masters, a comedy by Britain’s “other Shakespeare” Thomas Middleton – 23 – 25 June 2011, 7.45pm, Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of York. Admission by ticket only (£6, Students £4, Group bookings: 10 for the price of 9).
The End: the Gare St Lazare Players – an adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s short story. 22 June 2011, 8.00pm, Dixon Studio Theatre, Wentworth College, University of York. Tickets no longer available.
Two Planks and a Passion by Anthony Minghella – 1- 16 July 2011, 7.30pm, York Theatre Royal. Admission by ticket only (£10 to £18, £7 students and under-25s; Family Ticket: Tuesday to Thursday £44, Friday and Saturday £48 (two adults, two children under16).
King Arthur by Henry Purcell – 10 July 2011, 7.00pm, The National Centre for Early Music. Admission by ticket only (£20, Concessions £17, Students £5). There’s a free pre-concert talk about this (see below)
Talks
John Banville – Booker prize winning author reads from one of his books. 23 June 2011, 6.00pm, Room P/X001, Physics, University of York. Admission by free ticket only. NB tickets are no longer available for this but there will be video streaming to an overspill auditorium.
Reading by JM Coetzee – double booker prize-winner reads from a work in progress. 24 June 2011, 6.00pm, Central Hall, University of York. Admission by free ticket only.
Exhibiting Etty: Professor Mark Hallett, Deparment of History of Art, University of York, Saturday 25 June 2011, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, York Art Gallery (advance booking required)
Judith’s vampish virtue in film art and literature – 27 June, 6pm. De Grey lecture theatre, York St John University.
Kester Aspden: Writing the Criminal Act – 28 June 2011, 5.30pm. National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York. Free admission.
Thirty Pieces of Silver: Speaker the artist, Cornelia Parker. 30 June 2011, 1.00pm to 2.00pm. Room K/G33, King’s Manor, Exhibition Square, York. Free admission.
Histories of Conversion in York: Footsteps of Faith – a “talk ‘n’ walk” led by Abigail Shinn and Helen Smith from the University of York – 2 July 2011, 11.00am, meet up at the fountain in Exhibition Square. Free admission.
Mystery Plays for the 21st Century: a pre-performance panel discussion – 6 July 2011, 6.00pm. De Grey Rooms, Exhibition Square. Admission by free ticket.
York Mystery Plays: Continuity and Change, Past, Present and Future – The 3rd York Mystery Plays International Conference – 9 July 2011, 9.00am to 6pm. Bedern Hall.
Pre-Concert Talk: Purcell’s King Arthur, by Andrew Pinnock. 10 July 2011, 6pm, Rymer Auditorium, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York – admission free to those attending concert performance (see above).
Booking and venue details:
Tickets for some events are available here.
Bedern Hall
Bartlegarth
St Andrewgate
York
YO1 7AL
Tel: 01904 653 698
Ken Spelman Rare Books
70 Micklegate
York
YO1 6LF
01904 624 414
The National Centre for Early Music
St Margaret’s Church
Walmgate
York
Y01 9TL
Box Office: 01904 658 338
General Enquiries: 01904 632 220
Email: info@ncem.co.uk
University of York Concerts
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
Box Office: 01904 432 439
Email: boxoffice@york.ac.uk
York Art Gallery
Exhibition Square
York
YO1 7EW
Tel: 01904 687 687
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm – admission free
York St John University
Lord Mayor’s Walk
York
YO31 7EX
York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place
York
YO1 7HD
Box Office: 01904 623 568
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